The REAL Endings Of Full House: Why Michelle's Amnesia Was The Strangest Goodbye And How Fuller House Fixed It

The conclusion of the beloved Full House franchise is actually a two-part story, separated by a 25-year gap, with two vastly different finales. The original series, which aired its final episode on May 23, 1995, ended on a bizarre, unresolved note that confused fans for decades, featuring a plot twist involving amnesia that felt out of place for the wholesome sitcom. In stark contrast, the sequel series, Fuller House, delivered a definitive, emotional, and celebratory ending on June 2, 2020, with a massive triple wedding that finally gave the Tanner family the perfect, tear-jerking farewell they deserved.

This deep dive into the dual endings of the iconic San Francisco family saga reveals the behind-the-scenes financial drama that sabotaged the original finale and the powerful, nostalgic choices made by the cast and creators to deliver a satisfying, modern conclusion in the Netflix revival. The "ending of Full House" is not one event, but two pivotal moments that define the legacy of the Tanner-Katsopolis-Gladstone household.

The Bizarre Conclusion of the Original Series: Michelle Rides Again

The original Full House series finale, a two-part episode titled “Michelle Rides Again,” remains one of the most infamously strange endings in sitcom history. It was a chaotic, rushed conclusion that was never meant to be the final chapter for the Tanner family.

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The Plot That Shocked Fans

The two-part finale, which aired in 1995, focused heavily on the youngest Tanner daughter, Michelle (played by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen). The central conflict was a serious one: Michelle falls off her horse, resulting in a head injury that causes temporary amnesia.

• Part 1: The Accident. Michelle is preparing for a horse show but is conflicted about competing. She eventually falls from her horse, leaving the family in a panic.
• Part 2: The Amnesia. Michelle wakes up and has no memory of her family, friends, or her life in the Tanner household. She does not recognize her father, Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), her sisters, D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron-Bure) and Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), or her uncles, Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) and Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier).

The entire episode is dedicated to the family trying to jog Michelle’s memory, a dramatic and high-stakes plot that felt like a standard "very special episode" rather than a proper series send-off. In the very final moments of the series, Michelle’s memory is restored after a final, emotional plea from her loved ones, and the family shares a final group hug on the couch.

The Real Reason for the "Weird" Ending

The reason for the strange, unresolved nature of the finale was simple: the show was unexpectedly canceled. The producers and writers had no intention of ending the series with the eighth season.

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• Financial Disputes: ABC decided to cancel Full House in 1995 primarily due to rising production costs and the expiring contracts of several main actors. The show was still popular, but it had become too expensive to produce.
• The Failed Network Move: There was a serious effort to move the series to The WB or CBS for a ninth season. However, the deal fell apart, with reports suggesting that John Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse, was not willing to accept the terms of the network change.
• Rushed Scripting: Because the cancellation notice came late, the writers were forced to hastily wrap up the season's storyline ("Michelle Rides Again") into an unplanned series finale, which explains why the amnesia plot dominated the final episode instead of a more reflective, nostalgic conclusion.

The lack of a true, definitive ending—where the characters discuss their futures or reflect on their journey—is why the "Michelle Rides Again" finale is often cited by the cast and fans as a disappointing, albeit memorable, conclusion to the original run.

The Definitive Farewell: Fuller House's Emotional Triple Wedding

Two decades later, the sequel series, Fuller House, was given the opportunity to provide the proper send-off that the Tanner family was denied in 1995. The final episode, "Our Very Last Show, Again," which premiered on Netflix in 2020, delivered a definitive, emotional, and satisfying conclusion centered around a massive family celebration: a triple wedding.

The Triple Wedding and Last-Minute Chaos

The finale centered on the joint wedding of the three main couples: D.J. Tanner and Steve Hale, Stephanie Tanner and Jimmy Gibbler, and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) and Fernando Hernandez-Guerrero-Fernandez-Guerrero.

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• Wedding Complications: In classic sitcom fashion, the day was plagued with last-minute problems. The venue suddenly closed, the officiant backed out, and the hairdressers were unavailable. The family, relying on the "Full House" spirit, pulled together to save the day, with Danny, Jesse, and Joey stepping in to help.
• The Walk Down the Aisle: The emotional highlight was the brides’ walk down the aisle. Danny walked D.J., Joey walked Kimmy, and Uncle Jesse walked Stephanie, symbolizing the three father figures who raised the girls.
• The Big Surprise: During the reception, Stephanie revealed she was expecting her second child with Jimmy, a joyful announcement that added to the celebratory atmosphere.

The True Emotional Ending: They Stay

The real, tear-jerking finale came the next morning. The episode was structured to show D.J., Stephanie, and Kimmy all packing up to move out of the iconic San Francisco house with their new husbands, officially ending the "Fuller House" era.

The emotional goodbyes were filmed with raw emotion, with cast members like Candace Cameron-Bure (D.J.) and Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) admitting they struggled to get through the tearful scenes. However, in a final, heartwarming twist that honored the show’s central theme of family togetherness, Stephanie and Kimmy rush back to the house.

The final moments revealed that Stephanie and Jimmy, along with Kimmy and Fernando, decided to stay in the Tanner house, realizing they couldn't leave the family they had built. The three women and their children would continue to live together, ensuring that the house was never truly empty.

The final shot of the series is the three women—D.J., Stephanie, and Kimmy—standing together in the attic, looking lovingly at each other, cementing the message that the family bond is unbreakable. This definitive, intentional conclusion was the perfect, emotional bookend to the entire 33-year franchise.

The Full House Legacy: Entities and Catchphrases

The enduring legacy of the Tanner family is built on its core characters and the memorable moments they created. The endings of both series—one accidental, one intentional—served to reinforce the powerful themes of family, love, and support.

Key entities and phrases that defined the series, and were woven into the finale, include:

• Core Family: Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier), D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron-Bure), Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), and Michelle Tanner (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen).
• The Gibblers: Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), Jimmy Gibbler, and Fernando Hernandez-Guerrero-Fernandez-Guerrero.
• Catchphrases: The iconic lines that became synonymous with the show, such as Uncle Jesse’s "Have Mercy!", Stephanie’s "How Rude!", and Michelle’s "You Got It, Dude!" were all referenced throughout Fuller House, ensuring the nostalgic connection remained strong.
• The House: The Victorian house in San Francisco is the central character, a symbol of the unconventional family structure created after the death of Pam Tanner. The decision by Stephanie and Kimmy to stay in the Fuller House finale ensures the continuity of the Tanner-Gibbler legacy in the iconic home.

While the original Full House ended with a weird, amnesia-fueled cliffhanger due to the harsh realities of network television, Fuller House provided the true, celebratory, and emotional goodbye fans craved. It was a rare chance for a beloved show to correct its past and deliver a definitive conclusion that honored the enduring message: "Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there’s a heart, a hand to hold onto."